November 15, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact
Jim Fallon at 816-512-2382
Keri Geffert at 816-512-2392

EPA, Ag Biotech Companies Announce IRM Compliance Assurance Program
Program Helps Bt Corn Growers Meet Strict Standards

KANSAS CITY, Mo., November 15, 2002 — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee (ABSTC) have agreed to a new compliance program to help growers meet the insect resistance management (IRM) requirements for Bt corn established in 1999. The IRM Compliance Assurance Program details how registrants of Bt corn are required to monitor, assist and deal with growers who do not follow IRM requirements.

Under the program, growers who do not meet IRM requirements for two consecutive years will be denied access to Bt corn in the third year. The registrations for Bt corn require that growers maintain at least a 20 percent non-Bt corn refuge. Bt corn fields must be located within ½ mile (preferably ¼ mile) of their refuge corn fields. Within certain corn/cotton areas of the south, growers are required to plant at least a 50 percent non-Bt corn refuge.

“I believe the IRM Compliance Assurance Program is the best way to protect against resistance and keep Bt products available. It is a workable and practical plan for growers,” said National Corn Growers Association President Fred Yoder, a corn grower from Plain City, Ohio. “We’ve done a good job of complying so far, and this program will help make sure Bt corn remains effective against pests and continues to provide economic benefits for all of us.”

Under the IRM Compliance Assurance Program, registrants will evaluate the extent to which growers are adhering to the IRM requirements and ensure that those who do not are brought back into compliance. With the implementation of the program, growers who are not in compliance in a given year will be issued a warning and must make the necessary changes to comply during the next growing season. Other details of the program include:

• Bt corn growers are required to sign a stewardship agreement before accessing Bt technologies and to reaffirm that pledge annually
• Dealers, seed company representatives, as well as the registrants are obligated to ensure growers are informed of the IRM requirements or they could lose their authority to sell Bt products
• Bt corn registrants also are required to sponsor an annual survey, conducted by a third party, to measure the degree of adherence to IRM requirements

According to Michael Phillips, executive director of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the commitment is industry wide, making the program a critical method of meeting IRM regulatory standards.

“The agricultural biotechnology industry has worked hard to meet the needs of EPA, as well as growers,” Phillips said. “We understand the importance of maintaining our diligence in preventing insect resistance and are committed to helping growers meet the IRM requirements.”

For additional information on the IRM Compliance Assurance Program, go to www.ncga.com.